Slide fastener



Feb. 8, 1938. F. P. MILLER ET AL SLIDE FASTENER Original Filed June 22,1934 IIIHII m ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 8, 1938 i iiiiiSUEU JAN161940 smna FASTENER Originalapplication June 22, 1934, Serial No. 731,995. Divided and thisapplication June 2, 1937, Serial No. 145,997

21 illaims. (Ci. 24-205) lTED STATES PATENT OFF'l This applicationrelates to slide fasteners and is a divison of our application bearingSerial Number 731,995.

Briefly, the invention of this application looks 5 to the production ofslide fasteners in strip form and more particularly, in spaced relationalong at least one edge of a band, webbing or ribbon to achieve, amongother things, a reduced cost of manufacture; and to provide for theeasyhan- H dling of the fastener elements during bufiing, coloring. and suchother intermediate processes as may be employed.

By way of preliminary reference to the coloring of the fastener elementsin any selected manner 15 and While still in strip form, it is pointedout that the connection of the fastener elements with the supportingwebbing or band thereof is such that, although the fastener elements aresevered from the supporting band after the coloring process,

there will be left on the fastener elements no raw, uncolored metaledgesor surfaces exposed to view,

\ which edges or surfaces would mar the appearance of the finishedproduct, especially when conspicuously in place on a garment, a handbagor one of the numerous other articles to which slide fasteners areapplied.

Another advantage in the formation of the fastener elements in spacedrelation and attached to a continuous web or band will be found to re-30 side in the ease and efficiency with which the fastener elements maybe presented to the cutting-off or severing mechanism and the assemblydevice.

In addition, the invention makes provision for the buffing of thefastener elements while still in strip form and immediately after theforming or punching operation to avoid special handling of the fastenerelements for this purpose and, at the same time, to avoid an appreciablew increase in the cost of manufacture due to the buffing operation, itbeing observed in passing that the proper and inexpensive buffing offastener elements-to remove burrs and sharp edges therefrom isrecognized in this art as quite a problem.

The invention also contemplates a novel form of interfitting male andfemale connection between the completed fastener elements, whichconnection will be found to simplify manufac- 50 ture; make possible theformation of the individual fastener elements with slightly rounded endsto the interlocking heads to add to the appearance of the finishedarticle; to facilitate the meshing of the interlocking heads of thefastener 5:, elements and, at the same time to limit rocking movement ofthe fastener elements, one with re spect to another when in finalinterdigitating relation. 1

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description. 5

In the accompanying drawing forming apart of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view of a strip of fastener elementsembodied in the invention, the view illustrating a die in operativerelation to oppositely located fastener elements,

Fig. 2 is a similar view disclosing a slightly modified form of strip,

Fig. 3 is a similar view disclosing another form of strip, I

Fig. 4 is a similar view disclosing a further form of strip,

Fig. 5 is a similar view disclosing another form of strip,

Fig. 6 is a perspective of a completed fastener element,

Fig.7 is a fragmentary sectional perspective of a modified form offastener element, and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a completed slide fastener.

It will be seen that the projections or male -members of theinterlocking heads of the fastener elements are tapered toward theleading ends thereof while the complemental sockets 36 are flared orenlarged toward the inlet ends thereof for the easy reception of theprojections.

Also, the sockets 36 and the resulting projections will be found to bein the form of fiattened ovals having parallel side walls inlongitudinal cross section joined by approximately semi-circular endwalls. This configuration facilitates the connection and disconnectionof the elements of the completed fastener and, in ad- 40 dition, makespossible the rounding of the adjacent end portions of the interlockingheads so as to avoid sharp angles or corners which might interfere withthe proper bringing together and later separation of the fastenerelements in the completed article. The rounding of the end portions ofthe interlocking heads also adds to the appearance of the completedarticle.

The arrangement of the rows of fastener elements as shown in Figure 1,and more particularly the connection of the individual fastener elementswith the web or band 32 through the intervention of the lateral branches34, provides asimple and convenient means bywhich the fastener elementsmay be colored, dyed or plated while still in strip form. It will beobserved that all those surfaces and edges of the fastener elementsexposed in the completed slide fastener are exposed for application of acoloring, dyeing, or plating medium, even though the fastener elementsare still in strip form.

That is to say, the particular connection between the band 32 and theindividual fastener elements calls for the subsequentemployment of acut-off punch 38 of a width and formation to simultaneously cut throughoppositely located fastener elements Without leaving raw edges that willbe exposed in the finished product. When the cut-off punch 38 isadvanced, as shown in Figure l. the oppositely located fastener elementsare bifurcated or formed with tape engaging jaws while, at the sametime, the fastener elements are severed from the webbing 32 and thelateral branches 34.

Of course, the strip of fastener elements is subjected to the action ofthe cut-off punch only after the coloring, dyeing or plating operation,and it is important to observe that the raw edges left by the cut-offpunch will-be engaged with the tape and will not be exposed to view inthe completed fastener.

The cut-off punch 38 is shown to have enlarged cylindrically beadededges with the element engaging sides of the punch in convergingrelation to form key-hole openings in the fastener elements.

The key-hole openings thus produced in the individual fastener elements,at the jaw portions thereof, of course, might be said to have circularinner portions and diverging side walls, the latter defining graduallyrestricted entrance openings for the tape.

It is further illustrated in Figure 1 that the jaw portions of theindividual fastener elements have the outer edges thereof initiallyflared or in diverging relation. This provides for the subsequent inwardclamping of the jaws in engagement with the tape, bringing the outeredges of the jaws into approximately parallel relation to each other.

Attention is now invited to the fact that the arrangement of thefastener elements in rows at opposite sides of the intervening web, withthe 7 various edges of the fastener elements spaced from each other andfrom the web, not only provides for the coating of the entire surfacesof the fastener elements, but, at the same time, looks to effective andexpeditious treatment of the fastener elements to remove therefrom thoseburrs and sharp edges resulting from the preceding punching operation,all while the fastener elements are still in strip form. This alsoavoids material waste.

In the form of strip illustrated in Figure 2, the band or ribbon isprovided with laterally projecting branches or legs 52 joined with thejaw portions of the fastener elements 54 at the points where the cut-offpunch 56 passes through the material forming this strip.

The form of strip shown in Figure 2 difiers from the disclosure inFigure l, in that the individual fastener elements are provided withcircular openings formed during the punching operation by which thefastener elements are outlined or given the form shown in Figure 2. Thisform of strip calls for the employment of the cutoff punch 56 in whichthe sides thereof diminish in wall thickness toward the outer edgesthereof and which punch may be without the beaded outer edges.

The operation of the cut-off punch 56 leaves oppositely located fastenerelements 54 with keyhole openings for the reception of mounting tapes,the outer portions of such openings having converging sides to guide thetape into proper position between the tape engaging jaws.

Of course, as one of the final steps in the mounting of the individualfastener elements 54 upon tapes, the jaws are brought into pressureengagement with the tapes and in looking to this, it will be found thatthe jaw portions of the fastener elements have the outer edges thereofin initially diverging or flared relation so that when the jaws areclamped in engagement with the tapes, the outer edges of the fastenerelements will be approximately parallel throughout.

The arrangement of the fastener elements in strip form provides for thebufiing of the fastener elements while still in strip form andimmediately after the initial forming operation; 1

provides a simple means by which the entire ultimately exposed surfacesof the individual fastener elements may be colored, plated or dyed, andalso provides for the twin production of fastener elements at eachstroke of the punch press and looks to the accelerated separation of theindividual fastener elements from the strip, and the delivery of thefastener elements to assembly units.

In the form of strip disclosed in Figure 3, the central band or ribbonis designated by the numeral 60 and is provided at uniformly spacedpoints with pairs of laterally projecting branches or lugs 64 extendingbetween the diverging jaws 66 of the fastener elements 68. Morespecifically, the laterally projecting branches or lugs 64 connect withthe individual fastener elements atpoints between the ends of theelements and the edges of these branches are spaced from the inner edgesof the jaws, so that when the cylindrical cut-off punches 10 areadvanced to the positions suggested in Figure 3, the individual fastenerelements will be given cylindrical recesses and at the same time thebranches 6d will be cut off at the points where the-same join thefastener elements.

Of course, the strip as shown in Figure 3 was outlined by a previousforming operation from an initially fiat metallic ribbon or strip havinga width equal to or greater than the distance between the end portionsof the interlocking heads of oppositely located fastener elements 68.

It will be seen that although the fastener elements 68 are in stripform, all surfaces and finally exposed edges thereof are available forcoloring,

dyeing or plating and that the raw edges left by the cut-off punches 10will not be exposed to view in the completed slide fastener. In additionto looking to the coloring of the individual fastener elements whilestillin strip form, the form of strip shown in Figure 3 provides asimple means by which all rough edges and burrs resulting from theoriginal forming operation may be removed as a preliminary to thecoloring process and while, of course, the fastener elements are stillin strip form.

A punch 14 may be positioned between the cutoff punches l0 and caused tooperate in unison therewith to cut the central webbing or ribbon 60 intoshort pieces and thereby avoid an objectionable coiling of this materialin the region of the cut-off punches.

Figure 4 shows a form of strip in which the fastener elements 80 arearranged at right angles to the intervening connecting ribbon or band 82and in the form of parallel rows in which the fastener elements arearranged in spaced edge-toedge relation.

In this form of strip, the inner or jaw portions of the fastenerelements 80 are indirectly joined with the longitudinally extending bandor ribbon 82 by means of an intervening approximately triangular portionof ribbon material extending laterally from central web 82, and itrequires a cut-off punch 84, somewhat T-shaped in cross-section tocomplete the tape gripping jaws of the fastener elements and to severthese fastener elements from the central webbing 82.

In the form of strip shown in Figure '4, the fastener elements areprovided with circular openings 86 and it is the function of the lateralvanes of the cut-off punch 84 to cut through those portions of thefastener elements between the openings 86 and the opposed or inner endsof the fastener elements. When the cut-off punch 84 has been advanced asshown in Figure 4, the oppositely located fastener elements 80 areprovided with jaws having the inner and outer edges thereof in somewhatdiverging or flared relation. The flared arrangement of the inner edgesof the jaws of the fastener elements provides for the easy entrance ofthe mounting tapes into the spaces between the jaws and when the jawshave been clamped in engagement with the tapes, both the inner and outeredges of the jaws will be found to be substantially parallel.

It will be seen that only one jaw of each fastener element 80constitutes the sole connection between each fastener element and thecentral band 82, and this connection is through an intermediate portionof ribbon material so that when the cut-off punch severs a fastenerelement from the band 82 by removing this intermediate portion, only oneend of one jaw will be left uncolored, it being understood, of course,that the strip of fastener elements as shown in Figure 4 are coloredafter being buffed and prior to the action of the punch 84.

The action of the die 84 shown in Figure 4 completesthe formation of thejaws of the fastener elements and simultaneously severs two fastenerelements from the central webbing or ribbon 82. If the strip has beenpreviously colored, the uncolored portion left through the operation ofthe punch 8d would be of no serious consequence. Such uncolored portionof the fastener element would be at the end of only one of the jaws ofthe fastener element and such' jaw could be arranged so that it would beon the under or inner side of the completed slide fastener and thusconcealed fromview. However, the point of connection between aparticular fastener element, 80 and the web 82 is very small and eventhough exposed to view would be inconspicuous.

The arrangement of fastener elements in strip form as shown in Figure 4provides for the bufiing away of the sharp edges or burrs resulting fromthe'initial forming or outlining operation and at the same time looks tothe coloring of the fastener elements while in strip form, it beingobserved in this connection that the coloring process is materiallysimplified by having the fastener elements in strip form asdistinguished from the coloring of the fastener elements when separated.

In the form of strip disclosed in Figure 5, the fastener elements aredesignated by the numeral 9i! and simultaneously with the originalforming or outlining operation the fastener elements are punched toprovide key-hole'openings 92 defining diverging jaws for engagement withthe mounting tape; In this form of strip, the fastener elements are,'ofcourse, arranged in edge-to-edge spaced relation and in rows at oppositesides of the central ribbon or web 94 with one jaw of each fastenerelement connected with the web, through an intermediate portion ofribbon material.

The cut-off die 96 is shown to be somewhat dovetailed and acts between apair of oppositely located fastener elements 99 to simultaneously detachthese fastener elements from the web 94 by removing the interveningmaterial. As in the case of the strip shown in Figure 4, the terminal ofone jaw of each fastener element is the only part of the fastenerelement not exposed for coloring while the fastener elements are stillin strip form and, if expedient or desirable, this uncolored portion maybe finally arranged so that it is concealed; The forming of the tapereceiving openings 92' coincident with the original outlining operationof the fastener elements looks to the removal of the burrs along thewalls of the openings \92 at the time the remaining portions of thefastener elements are being buffed.

The fastener elements shown in Figures 4,

and 6 are formed with diamond-shaped recesses 98 defining similarlyshaped projections 99. Such recesses and projections are reduced ortapered from the surfaces from which the same extend or originate toprovide ior'easy assembly when the completed fastener elements arebrought into interfitting relation. More specifically, the bottom ofeach recess is in the form of a rhombus while the top is octagonal,having all opposed edges parallel and all of equal length in the sameplane, the said edges being alternately short and long thereby producingside walls alternately triangular and trapezoidal in form.

At the same time, the form of recess and projection shown in Figures 4,5 and 6 permits of the formation of the interlocking head portions ofthe fastenerielements with curved or rounded lines, thereby avoiding thesharp corners known to be objectionable for several reasons.

As brought out in the opening paragraphs of this specification. theoperation of the forming dies leaves the newly formed fastener elementswith rather sharp edges and numerous burrs, which, unless removed, wouldoffer serious interference with the smooth operation of the slider ofthe completed fastener. and in addition, such burrs and sharp edgesfrequently snag the sheer and other fabrics with which the same come incontact.

The simple and inexpensive removal of these burrs and sharp edges fromthe individual fastener elements is recognized as a troublesome problemin this industry and, in appreciation of this, it has been found highlyadvantageous to buff the fastener elements while still in strip form,which has been found to provide for the most, convenient handling andpresentation of the fastener elements to the, buffing wheels. In otherWords, no separate handling of the fastener elements is required forpresentation of the same to the buffing wheels.

By reference to Figures 1 to 5; inclusive, it will be seen that thevarious fastener elements are arranged in edge-to-edge spaced relationfor engagement on all surfaces thereof by the buffing wheels.

With the 'strip of newly formed and buffed fastener elements thus coiledupon the reel, the reel may .be removed from its mounting and conductedto a coloring, dyeing, or plating room where the fastener elements aresuitably colored while still in strip form.

. Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An article of manufacture, comprising a ribbon-like member having aseries of fastener elements disposed along at least one side thereof,characterized by the fact that each element is unitarily connected tosaid ribbon-like member and provided with tape gripping jaws at one endand an interlocking head at its other end.

2. An article of manufacture, comprising a web or band of suitablematerial and of indeterminate length having completely shaped fastenerelements formed integrally therewith and extending laterally from oneedge thereof, each of said elements having tape gripping jaws at one endand an interlocking head at its other, individual elements beingobtained by severing the same from the web or band.

3. An article of manufacture, comprising a web or band of suitablematerial of indeterminate length and having shaped fastener elementseach of which has tape gripping jaws at one end and an interlocking headat the other end formed integrally therewith and extending transverselyfrom one edge thereof; the longitudinal axes of said elements being atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the web or band.

4. An article according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that theends of the jaws of the fastener elements are spaced from the adjacentedge of the ribbon-like member.

5. An article according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that eachelement is unitarily connected to the ribbon-like member by a neckportion disposed between the jaws thereof and which is united at one endwith the support member and at the other end with the element betweenits tape gripping jaw portions.

6. An article of manufacture, made from metal and comprising aribbon-like support member having a series of fastener elements disposedin juxtaposition to one edge thereof and in spaced .relation one toanother and to said edge; said elements each having tape gripping jawsat one end and an interlocking head at the other and each beingunitarily connected to the adjacent edge of said support member by anintervening neck portion.

7. An article according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that aseries of said fastenerelements is disposed along both longitudinaledges of the ribbon-like member.

8. An article of manufacture, comprising a ribbon-like member having aseries of fastener elements extending laterally from at least one sidethereof in fixed spaced relation and each having at least partiallyformed tape gripping jaws at one end and an interlocking head at theother end and each being unitarily connected to the ribbon-like memberby a neck portion.

9. An article of manufacture, comprising a series of spaced metallicfastener elements each of which has at least partially formed tapegripping jaws at one end and an interlocking head at the other end, anda metallic ribbon-like member formed in one piece with said elements forholding and supporting the same while subsequent operations areperformed on said elements.

10. An article of manufacture, comprising a band or web of suitablematerial and having substantially completely shaped fastener ele-- mentsalong a side thereof in spaced relation one to another; said band or webhaving a laterally projecting portion associated with each element and.unitarily uniting the same to the band or web; each of said elementshaving an interlocking head at one end and spaced portions at the otherend which, when said element is severed from its associated projectingportion, form tape gripping jaws.

11. An article according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that thelaterally projecting portions are so shaped and joined to the fastenerelements that, when an element is severed therefrom the severed surfaceswill form at least a portion of the tape gripping surfaces of the tapegripping jaws.

12. A stock strip comprising substantially completely formed fastenerelements each having an interlocking head at one end and tape grippingjaw portions at the other end and a band or ribbon-like portion to whichsaid elements are unitarily connected.

13. A metal stock strip comprising uniformly spaced substantiallycompletely formed fastener elements each having an interlocking head atone end and tape gripping jaw portions at the other end and a band orribbon-like portion to which said elements are unitarily connected.

14. A metal stock strip comprising uniformly spaced substantiallycompletely formed fastener elements each having an interlocking head atone end and tape gripping jaw portions at the other end and a band orribbon-like portion to which said elements are unitarily connectedadjacent the tape gripping jaw portions thereof.

15. A stock strip comprising colored fastener elements each having aninterlocking head at one end and tape gripping jaw portions at its otherend and a band or a ribbonlike portion to which each of said elements isunitarily connected by a portion which extends laterally therefrom to aposition between its jaw portions.

16. A metal stock strip comprising uniformly spaced buffed and coloredfastener elements each having an interlocking head at one end and tapegripping jaw portions at its other end and a band or ribbon-like portionto which each of said elements is unitarily connected by a portion whichextends laterally from the ribbon-like portion to a position between itsjaw portions.

17. A metal stock strip comprising a band or ribbon portion, uniformlyspaced smoothed and colored fastener elements each having aninterlocking head at one end and tape gripping jaw portions at its otherend and connecting portions which extend laterally from the ribbonportion to positions between the fastener element jaw portions wherebywhen said connecting portions are severed from the jaw portions theinner-adjaeent faces of the tape gripping jaws will be the onlyuncolored portions of the fastener elements.

18. A stock strip'comprising a. web or ribbon having equally spacedbranches extending lat erally therefrom and a slide fastener clementjoining each branch and which has an interlocking head at its outer orfree end and tape gripping jaws at its branch end.

19. A stock strip comprising a central web or ribbon having branchesextending laterally therefrom in opposite directions and fastenerelements having interlocking heads and tape engaging jaw portionsconnected to said branches.

'20. In a stock strip, a pair of spaced parallel rows of slide fastenerelements arranged in side by side relation, :3. central web or ribbonextending lengthwise between said rows and having laterally extendingbranches connected with the tape gripping jaw portions of said fastenerele- 5 ments.

21. In a. structure of the class described, a pair of rows of preformedslide fastener elements, the fastener elements of one row being providedwith FRANK P. MILLER.

LEWIS S

